James City County Law Enforcement warns drivers to ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ this Fourth of July

James City County Police Department is preparing to step up the enforcement of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) infractions this July 4 holiday. Americans love to celebrate the Fourth of July with family, friends, food and fireworks, but too often alcohol turns the party into a tragedy, making this iconic holiday one of the most deadly days of the year on the nation’s roads.

Police will be out in force looking for motorists who have had too much alcohol to be behind the wheel. There will be zero tolerance for anyone drinking and driving.

The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscore the continuing toll drunk driving imposes on the nation. Impaired-driving crashes killed 9,878 people in 2011, accounting for 31 percent of the total traffic fatalities in the United States. That’s an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 53 minutes.

The level of drunk-driving fatalities is not unique to 2011. According to additional data from NHTSA, during July 4th holidays over the last five years (from 2007 to 2011), 780 people lost their lives in crashes involving drivers who had BACs of .08 g/dL or higher. These fatalities accounted for 40 percent of all highway deaths over the five-year period.

James City County Police recommend these simple tips for a safe Fourth of July:

Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.

Before drinking, designate a sober driver.

If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.

Use your community’s sober ride program. If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact the James City County Police Department.

And remember, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.